Feeler-motion for looms.



E. RIlOADESn FEELEH MOTION FOR LGOMS.

APPLICATION HLED MAR. 9. Hi6.

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

Attorney ALONZO E. mioamlsigrsfornnaLn, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TODRAPER COMPANY,

OF HOP HIE, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MAINE.

FEELER-MOTION FOR LOOMS.

Specification of Letters Patent."

Patented Dec. 12, 1916.

llppli ation filed March 9, 1916. Serial No. 83,],86.

To all whom it-ma'y concern:

Be it known that 1,;ALONZO E. RnoAnns, a citizen oftheUnite'd States,residing at Hopedale, in the county of Worcester and, State ofMassachusetts, have invented an,

Improvement in Feeler-Motions for Looms, of which the followingdescription, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is aspecification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

The invention to be hereinafter described relates to feeler motions forlooms, whereby when the filling in the active shuttle becomessubstantially exhausted, a train of mechanism is set for effecting achange in the loom operation, such for instance, as replenishment of thefilling. Devices of this character must be sensitive and for the bestresults, should call for filling replenishment when only sufficientfilling remains upon the bobbin or carrier in the shuttle to insure afull pick being laid in the shed under proper tension upon'the last tripof the shuttle-preceding replenishment. In order that proper detectionmay be made by the feeler, the shuttle and filling carrier or bobbintherein should be presented to the feeler on each detecting beat in thesame or sub stantially the same position. Preferably, this positionshould be such that the feeler may perform its function bycontactingwith the filling or bobbin upon an element of the cylindrical surface ofeither which reaches the most frontward position on the beat-up. Whenthe feeler acts horizontally,

' this element will of course, be in a\horizontal plane passing throughthe ion ti dinal axis of the bobbin. The shuttle, however, does notalways occupy the same v'e'tical the shuttle-box, owing to thefact tat-the shuttle is usually somewhat less in nternal vertical height thanthe internal eight of the shuttle-box. In Otlle}; words, he shuttle willsometimes be high and at other times be low in the shuttle box, with theresult. that .the feeler will not always engage the same element of thecylindrical surface of the filling or bobbin. This will cause inaccuracyin detection of. filling exhaustion, and replenishment is liable to beralletlv when there still remains a working supply of filling in theshuttle.

Aii iniportant feature of the present invention, therefore, consists inproviding two ing omitted, as such feeler members vertically separated adistance such that when the shuttle is high in the box, the upper fcelermember will detect the condition of the filli ng and when the shuttle islow in the box, the lowe'ifeeler member will similarly act.

"Another important feature of the invention consists ina feeler guardbetween the upper-and lower feeler members and having a-filling engagingend projecting normally beyond the ends of the feeler members andmovable from guarding position just prior to the time of or on the nearapproach to substantial exhaustion of filling. This feature of theinvention is preferably carried into effect by a guard between the'upperand lower feeler members having an end, which, when a working. supply offilling is present in the shuttle will engage the filling mass and beheld in guarding position, thereby, as the lay heats up; butwhen-themass or filling'approaches near to substantial exhaustion and it isdesired'that the upper and lowerfeeler members be permitted to perform"their detecting function, it 'will permit the guard to be moved fromguarding position.

The above and other features of the invention will be hereinafterdescribed in con nection with the accompanying drawings showing onegood, practical form of the inform of the present invention, the lay andparts of the loom which coact therewith beparts are well understood bythose skilled 'in' the art; Fig. 2 is a perspective -view showing theaction of the feeler motion vhen a working supply of filling is presenti'nthe shuttle, some of the parts being omitted and others broken awayfor clear'ness of illustration; Fig. 3 is a view similar to that of Fig.2, show1ng the action of parts when the filling has )econ'ie Isubstantially exhan'sterlz'; Fig.4 is a sectional.

view through the end of the feeder and transversely of the fillingcarrier or bobbin, showing the action of the feeler when the fillingcarrier or bobbin is in low position in the shuttle-box; Fig. 5 is aview similari to that of Fig. 4,sliowing the action of parts when thefilling-carrier or bobbin'is in high position in the shuttle-box; andFig. (lshows the upper and lower t'eeler members detached- 'lhc fcclerstand comprises a base portion 1 to which is secured by suita le neans.such as the screws 2. a cover 3 having the usual recess l to receive theshank portion of the t'eelcr slide 5. a spring i. as usual in suchconstructions, being employed for normally holding the t'celcr slide inrearward position. hilt yieldingfrontward on the detecting beat of thelay to permit froutward movementof the feeler slide.

Rising from the feeler slide 5 are the webs or lugs T between which. asat b. is pivotally mounted the arm 9 which. for identification. willhereinafter be known as the actuator. Extending rearward from theactuator 0 is the projection 10 beneath which is a spring 11 whichnormally acts to hold the actuator 10 with its bifurcated end portion 1;in lowered position substantially as indicated in Fig. :2.

Extending transversely of the t'eelcr stand is an arm 13 which. foridentification. .will hereinafter be known as the controller. Thecontroller 13 passes through the slotted end portion ll of an arm 15.generally known in the art as a transmitter. the construction being suchthat when the controller 13 is moved frontward it will ride over the camportion ll) of the transmitter and depress the adjacentend portionthereof to thereby. through suitable connections well understood in theart. initiate filling replenishment or other change in the loomoperation.

As hereinbefore pointed out. the shuttle and. perforce. the bobbin orlilliug carrier therein. does not always occupy the same verticalposition when it is received in the box adjacent the feelcr. Sometimesit will be high and sometimes it will be low in the shuttle-box. due tothe. fact that the vertical dimensions of the shuttle itsclt are smallerthan the vertical dimensions of the shuttlebox. Regardless of thevertical position of the sliuttle'and perforce. the tilting carrier in.theshuttle-box. it is dtsil'abltthat the feelcr shall act upon thetilting mass or bobbin as the case may be. along an element contained ina plane passing horizontally through the axis of the bobbin. .\s a meansto this call. the present invention contemplates two t'celer membersarranged in separated verticalfipositiou such that when the shuttle ishigh in the box. the upper teeter 'mcmber \vi|l pcrforinits detectingfunction.

and when the shuttle is low in the box. the lower t'cclcr, mem er ,willsimilarl act. the result being Ihat-dctcction o'l' filling cxhaus tionwill be more accuratcly and uniformly attained. and lillingreplenishment be et'l'cctcd only when the lillin; has reached thedesired degree of exhaustion. in carrying this 't'catai-ic ot' theinvention into ractical ctl'cct in the V-LPIJUHLHI instance. the l'cclerslide has its rear end portion provided with the upper and lowerimpinging members 1? and 1S. These are best formed by narrowing the endportion 18 of the t'ccler slide itself and mounting thereon the platc 1&which may. for convenience. he integrally formed as part of the web Thereinlwfore described.

Extending"longitudinally of the feeler slide are the guideways in whichare re ceived the. upper and lower t'eelcr members 90 and 21. which inthe present instance. are shown as the penetrating members each beinprovided with a penetrating end '22 adapted to sink into the fillingwhen a working supply is present. and to be pushed for: ward by the moredense surface of the bobbin 23 itself when the fillinghas'becomepractically exhausted. and the lay makes its detecting ,beat.The guideways for the upper and lower feeler members 20 and 21 may beformed in any usual manner and as illustrated. the guide way for thelower feeler member is formed on the feeler slide. while. the guidewayfor the upper feeler member 20 is formed in the plate 1 stile stantiallyas indicated in Figs. 2. 3. 4 and 5. the construction being such thatwhen a working supply of filling is present on in detecting beat.theupper or lower penetrating member 20 or :21 will engage and. sinkinto thefilling mass. according to the vertical position of the shuttlein the box. and fail to be moved relatively to its accompanying upper orlower impinging member 1T. 18. but when the filling has become substantially exhausted. the upper or li-w'er penetrating member willengage the more dense surface of the bobbin itself. according as theshuttle is in high or low position in the box. and he moved relativelyto its ad jacent impinging member. and through the means to bedescribed. thereby initiate fill ing rcplenislunent on the continuedt'orward movement of the lay.

Secured to the actuator 9' is the heel Q-l having a toe portion '35resting upon the top. surface of the feeler slide 5 when the parts arein position as indicated in Fig. 2. The lower fecler member :21 isprovided with a heel-engaging portion 2t) and similarly. the upperfeeler member is provided with a heel-engaging portion 27. Inasmuch asthe feeler members 2'0 and 21 are separated in vertical planesappropriate to the play ot the shuttle in the shuttle-box for thepnrposes hcreinbetore de cribed. the heel-cn gaging portions of thet'ecler members are solormcd as to maintain said feeler mem- .bers inparallel relation. To this end. the the lower t'celcr member :21 has itsouter end portion provided with a head '28. the Hat upper surface ofwhich provides a seat for the end- 29 ot the upper feeler member '20 theconstruction being such that eitheiof said feeler members when movedrelaslide, the feeler guard 30, the end portion 31 'tively. to itsadjacent impinging member due to the advancing lay, the controller 13will be movedto initiate filling replenishment.

7 It is desirable that the-detecting function of the feeler be performedonly when the filling has reached a degree near to substantialexhaustion so that all danger of prematurely effecting 'fillinreplenishment by improper action ofthe eeler may be eliminated. To thisend, the present invention contemplates the provision of a fceler guardbetween the upper and lower feeler members 20 and 21, which, during thepresence of a Working supply of filling, will be maintained in normalguarding position projecting beyond the ends of the feeler members; butwhen the filling has neared substantial exhaustion, and it is desiredthat the feeling function of the feelers shall be permitted, is movedfrom guarding position. To this end, there is pivotally mountedon thefeelcr of which enters a recess or slot- 32 between the upper and lowerfeeler members 20, 21, said portion 31 01 the feeler guard bein providedwith a series of teeth or roughened portions 33 normally projectingbeyond the ends '22 of the feeler. members 20 and 21 and adaptedto befirst engaged by the. mass of filling when a working supply is present.In the present instance, the feeler guard 30 is pivotally mounted in alug 3i which may be conveniently formed as a part of the webs 7 securedto the feeler slide. The lug 3% extends laterally from-the feeler slideso that the fecler guard 30 has its pivot off set from itsfilling-engaging portion 33, the construction being such that upon thede tecting beatof the laywhen a working supply of filling is present,the teeth 33 of the feeler guard will engage and sink into the fillingmass and be held by such filli'pg' mass from movement. about its pivotalmounting as the lay heats up, thereby acting as. aguard for thefeeler-members 20 and 21 during normal loom operation; but when thefilling has approached near to substantial exhaustion and only a fewturns of filling remain upon the bobbin 23, the

teeth 33 of the guard will engage the more dense surface of'the bobbin23, and on further frontward movement of the lay, the forward push ofthe bobbin will cause the feeler guard to turn upon its pivotal mountingand expose the upper and lower feeler members 21 and'22 totheirdetecting-func- 'tion, and-.gwhen the filling has reached thedesired d'egree of exhaustion, one of said feeler meifiibers, dependingupon the position of the shuttle in the box, will be moved relatively toits adjacent impinging member, thereby positioning the actuator 9operatively with relation to the controller 13 to effect fillingreplenishment upon'further advancing movement of the lay and feelerslide.

When the feeler slide is moved to its rearward position after areplenishing operation due to substantial. exhaustion. of filling, it isdesirable that the feeler guard. be returned to feeler-guardingposition; and to this end-the feeler 30 has a laterally-projecting toeportion adapted to engage the end 36 of a rod 37 mounted in suitablebearings38 in the feeler stand and vnormally pressed rearward by aspring 39-, the con struction being su'ch that while the rod 37, whichmay be known as the feeler-guardresetting device, is movable frontwardagainst the action of its spring 39, the said spring normally tends tohold the said rod 37 in its feeler-guard-resetting position as indicatedin Fig. 1. The rearward position of the feeIer-gu; u-dresetting device37 may be conveniently adjustedby means of; adjusting nuts l0 secured tothe front end'lportion of 4 the feeler guard is provided witlra. toe portion 31 which may contact with the adjacent web 7 rising from the feelerslide From the construction described, it will be seen that. the feelerguard is movable in a direction longitudinally the shuttle on adetecting beat when the vsupply of filling approaches substantialexhaustion, and such movement is madebetween' the upper and lower feelermembers 20 and 21, over-movement of the feeler guard in said directionbeing prevented by suitable means such as the shoulder 42 which mayengage the rear part of the feeler slide when the feeler guard hasbee-unloved from its normal guarding position. v i

Vihile the present invention hasbeen described in connection witlrafeeler of the penetrating and impinging type, it isto be understood thatthe invention 1s not necessarily limited thereto, although it offersspecial advantages in connection with such typeof feeler, and by'the useof the terms upper and lower feeler members in the claims, applicantintends to includenot only the feeler members of the penetrating. type,but feeler members of other varieties'.

lVhat is claimed is:,

1. A feeler motion for looms, comprising an upper feelcr member and alower feeler member each adapted to enter t hc same shut- V deredetiective upon detection of substantial exhaustion of filling by eitherfeeler member to initiate filling replenishment.

2. feeler motion for looms. conmrising an upper feeler member to enterthe shuttle and detect the condition of filling therein when the fillingcarrier is in a relatively high position in the shuttle-box. a lowerfceler member to enter the shuttle and detect the'condition ot' thefilling, when the filling carrier is in a relatively low position in theshuttle-box. means adapted to be moved to etl'ect filling replenishmentupon detect ion of substantial exhaustion of filling by either of saidfeeler members 3. A feeler motion for looms. comprising an upper and alower feeler member each adapted to enter the shuttle on at detectingbeat and feel for the filling, and a guard be tween the upper and lowerfeeler members having a filling engaging end extending beyond the feelerliiembers and moved f om guarding position when the filling nearssubstantial exhaustion.

l. A feeler motion for looms, comprising two feeler members to enter thesame shuttle on a detecting beat. one of said feeler members acting todetect substantial exhaustion of filling'when the shuttle is high in theshuttle-box and the other member acting to detect substantial exhaustionof filling when the shuttle is low in the shuttle-box. and meansrendered effective by detecting movement of either of said feelermembers to initiate filling replenishment.

5. A feeler motion for looms. comprising two feeler members to enter thesame shuttie on a detecting beat, one of said feeler members acting todetect substantial exhaustion of filling when the shuttle is high in theshuttle-box and the other member acting to detect substantial exhaustionof filling when the shuttle is low in the shuttle-box,

a guard between the said two feeler meming adapted to detect substantialexhaustion of filling when the shuttle is high in the Sl1l1ttl;b0X andthe lower penetrating member being' adapted to, detect substantialexhaust-ion of filling when the shuttle. is low "in the shuttlebox, andmeans controlled by exhaustion indication by either of saidpenet-riiting members for initiating filling re-- iileaishinent.

T. In a loom. the combination of a t'eeler. comprising an impingingmember and two independently movable penetrating menibcrs arranged indill'creut horizontal planes. the upper o1 said penetrating membersbciug adapted to detect substantial exhaustion of filling when theshuttle is high in the shuttle-box and the lower penetrating memberbeing adapted to detectsubstantial exhaustion of filling when theshuttle is low in the. shuttle-box. a guard between the upper and lowerpenetrating members for preventing detecting action by either until thefilling nears substantial exhaustion. and means controlled by exhaustionindication by either of said penetrating members for initiating, fillingreplenislnnentr h. In a t'celer motion for looms. the combination of afeeler comprising an impinging member upper and lower penetratingmembers. a guard between the upper and lower penetrating members havinga filling engaging end extending beyond said t'eeler members and movablefrom guarding position by-the frontward push of the bobbin whenthefilling nears substantial exhaustion to permit the upper or lowerpenetrating member of the feeler to detect the condition of thefillingaccording to the height of the shuttle. in the shuttle-box.

9. A feeler motion for looms. comprising a feeler slide having animpinging end. an upper and a lower penetrating member mounted forlongitudinal movement on the slide and adapted to penetrate or sink intothe filling when a. working supply is present on at detecting beat. saidslide having upper and lower guideways for the penetrating members. anactuator independentof the upper and lower penetrating members andadapted to be moved by either upon detection of substantial exhaustion.and means for initiating filling reple-nislnnent."

10. In a feeler motion. the combination of a ,feeler slide having afilling engaging end portion. upper and lower'guideways extendinglongitudinally otthe. sl-ide. upper and lower feeler members movable insaid gnideways. and an actuator having a heel adapted to be. engaged bythe frcpit end portion of the upper and lower feeler members and movableby either into position for inltiating filling replemslnneut upon detection of substantial exhaustion by either fee-lei member. j i

11. In a feeler motion. the combimution of a feeler slide havingafilling engagiire end portion. upper and lower guide-ways e.\-

tending longitudinally of the' slide. upper and lower feeler membersmovable in said guuleways. said filling engaging end portion of the.feeler slide having a recesw'lietween the upper and lower feelermembers,

13. In a' feeler motion for looms, the combination of a feeler slide, anactuator carried by said slide and having a heel, upper and lower feelermembers adapted toact independently to detect filling exhaustion whenthe shuttle is in high and low positions respectively and each of saidfeeler members having aheel engaging end for 'operatively positioningthe actuator when either of said feeler members detects substantialexhaustion of filling.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.ALONZO E. RHOADES.

